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Public Consulation in Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield taxpayers share ideas on city's spending priorities

Alycia Ambroziak
The Gazette
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Public transportation, bicycle paths, recycling, garbage incineration, refurbishment of city parks and recreational facilities were some of the issues on the minds of Beaconsfield taxpayers who attended an information meeting Tuesday evening to help set priorities for the city’s 2009 budget.
A handful of residents showed up at a public consultation meeting at Beaconsfield United Church to share their own ideas on how the city should spend its money.
“It’s from meetings such as these that we can hear from you what we can do to make life better. That’s important to us,” Mayor Bob Benedetti told residents.
Benedetti welcomed the suggestions at the informal-style meeting, telling residents that in only three years since the demerger from the city of Montreal, a lot has been accomplished, and a lot more is to come.
For example, said Benedetti, taxpayers will receive only one tax bill next year, instead of the two imposed on homeowners following the demergers.
He added however that there are some issues, like the distribution of water costs, that have yet to be resolved.
Benedetti added that the 2009 budget will see increases in certain costs, like waste management expenses and the maintenance of buildings, drainage improvements, the resurfacing of 3 per cent of the city’s 105 kilometres of road, as well as  increases in costs for employee pension plans, debt service and payroll costs.